Pine Flat Lake

Pine Flat Lake provides recreation opportunities for hundreds of thousands of visitors annually. Pine Flat Lake was created by the construction of the 429-foot tall Pine Flat Dam on the Kings River, which was authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1944.

Construction of the Pine Flat Dam Project began in 1947 and was completed in 1954. Pine Flat Lake is 20 miles long, has 67 miles of shoreline and approximately 9 square miles of surface area. At maximum capacity, the lake holds 1,000,000 acre feet of water.

Today, Pine Flat Lake continues to provide flood control and irrigation benefits to the San Joaquin Valley.

The Jeff L. Taylor hydroelectric power plant was completed in 1984. 

Location:
35 miles east of Fresno in the oak-covered foothills of the Sierra Nevada. View Map

Mailing Address:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Pine Flat Lake
P.O. Box 117
Piedra, CA 93649-0117

Telephone:
559-787-2589
FAX 559-787-2773

E-mail:
[email protected]

Office Hours:
Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Directions: From California State Highways 99, 41  or 168 in Fresno, take California State Highway 180 east (towards Kings Canyon National Park) out of Fresno for approximately 18 miles.  Turn left (north) on Piedra Rd (towards Pine Flat Dam/Wonder Valley) and travel approximately 8 miles to the “T” intersection. Turn right (east) on E. Trimmer Springs Rd.  To visit the Park Headquarters and for views of Pine Flat Dam, turn right on Pine Flat Road and continue for 2.5 miles. To visit the recreation areas at the lake, continue east on Trimmer Springs Road and follow signs to the desired location. All lake recreation areas can be accessed via E. Trimmer Springs Rd. along the north shore of the lake. There is no public vehicle access to the lake along the south shore.

All day use facilities, campgrounds and the project office are open to the public.

Camping reservations can be made now through Recreation.gov.

 Recreation Area Services Status


Boating and Marina Services:
Boat launch facilities are available at four recreation areas at Pine Flat Lake, including Deer Creek, Island Park, Lakeview and Trimmer Recreation Areas. There are also two commercial/private marinas on the lake: Pine Flat Lake Marina at Deer Creek Recreation Area; and Lakeview Resort at Lakeview Recreation Area.

Services at Pine Flat Lake Marina include boat slip rentals (no boat rentals of any kind), fuel and general camping, fishing and grocery supplies. For more information on marina services call 559-787-2506.

Services at Lakeview Resort include a motel with approximately 10 suites with kitchenettes, full hook-up RV site rentals, dry dock storage, and a private marina providing boat rentals (seasonally and at this marina location only). For more information on resort services call 559-787-2207.

Boaters are reminded that there is a counter-clockwise direction of travel on the lake and a 50 mph speed limit. Water surface levels fluctuate daily.

Camping:
Pine Flat Lake offers two campgrounds: Island Park Campground with 94 campsites and Trimmer Campground with 10 campsites. Electricity is available at 25 campsites in Island Park Campground.

Each campsite is provided with a fire pit/grill and table. Hot showers and flush toilets are available at both campgrounds.

Island Park Campground has a fish cleaning station and a RV dump station.

There are two large group sites (Blue Oak and Buckeye) available at Deer Creek Point Group Campground, which are accessed from within the Island Park Recreation Area. Each site can accommodate multiple RVs and/or tents, and the sites are suitable for up to 80 people. A shade shelter, BBQ pit, fire ring, restroom and water are available at each group site to accommodate most camping needs. There is also a sand volleyball court, four permanent bag-toss boards, and two horseshoe pits available for use exclusively by campers in the group sites.  Volleyball and beanbags not provided.

Camping Reservation Links:
Reservations can be made by visiting Recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777. Direct links to Island Park and Trimmer Campground reservations are provided here:

 Island Park Campground Map

 Trimmer Campground

Fishing:
The lake offers a variety of gamefish, including large and smallmouth bass, spotted bass, rainbow trout, king (chinook) and kokanee salmon, catfish, crappie and bluegill. Anglers can fish for native rainbow trout in the upper Kings River, which is a special management area that encourages natural reproduction of wild trout without the planting of domestic stock. Anglers must have a valid state fishing license and comply with all California Department of Fish and Wildlife rules & regulations.

Hunting:
Hunting with bow or shotgun during open season is permitted in certain approved hunting areas. Hunting is not permitted in campgrounds or developed recreation areas. Hunters must be licensed and comply with California Department of Fish and Wildlife rules and regulations with regard to open seasons and bag limits.

 Hunting Map

Park Ranger Programs:
Park Rangers with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers provide weekly summer interpretive programs at the Island Park Amphitheater on summer weekends. A variety of programs are presented, focusing on local wildlife and water safety. Ranger programs can also be requested at local schools and events. Rangers also attend local fairs and events throughout the Central Valley. Ranger programs and special interest group dam tours can be requested by calling the project headquarters at 559-787-2589. Project management requests all dam tours to be schedules at least 30 days in advance.

Fees:

  • Day Use - $10
  • Camping - $20 nonelectric - $30 electric
  • Group Camping - $135
  • Special Use – Please contact project office for pricing

The Corps of Engineers participates in the America the Beautiful-Federal Recreational Lands Pass Series. The series includes the; Annual Pass, Every Kid Outdoors Pass available to 4th and 5th graders, Annual Senior Pass, Lifetime Senior Pass, Lifetime Access Pass, Volunteer Pass, and Military Pass. Be sure to pick up your America the Beautiful pass at any of our Corps projects as the money is directly invested back into the facilities to improve your recreational experience. Get more details about the pass series here.

The Annual Pass is $80, and you will have access to all of your favorite Corps recreation areas and participating federal agencies public lands. The Annual Pass is good for one year from the date of purchase.

Individuals 62 years and older have the choice of purchasing an Annual Senior Pass for $20 which is good for one year from the date of purchase, or a Lifetime Senior Pass for $80, which does not expire. Senior and Access Pass holders also receive a 50 percent discount on campsites at Corps-managed campgrounds.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers also sells their Corps Annual Pass for $40. The Corps Annual Pass gives unlimited access to day-use areas at any Corps project and is good for one year from the date of purchase.


Please help us make everyone's visit enjoyable by:

  • Watching children closely when around water.
  • Keeping your pets on a leash at all times.
  • Keeping fires confined to grills and pits and using only dead and down wood.
  • Maintaining quiet hours between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.
  • Operating vehicles only on designated roads and parking areas provided.
  • Camping only in designated campsites.
  • Helping clean up litter and keeping a neat campsite.
  • Reporting safety hazards to project staff.
  • Reading the project rules, copies of which are posted throughout the facility.

All areas are patrolled by Corps of Engineers park rangers and deputies of the Fresno County Sheriff's Department. If you need help, contact a park ranger or deputy sheriff, or dial 9-1-1.

Corps Recreation Across our Nation

Volunteer at a Corps Recreation Area

State Hunting & Fishing Regulations

Recreation on Federal Lands

Project Documents:
Rules and Regulations: Title 36 - Parks, Forests, and Public Property Chapter III - U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Part 327 - Rules and regulations governing public use of Water Resources Development Projects administered by the Chief of Engineers.

Master Plan:

 Pine Flat Lake Master Plan - 1976